San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-08
Texas and FrG0lp.
Platform Of the Anti-Prohib1 Party
Adopted at Dallas, May Al 1887.

l. We oppose the pending Shibition
amendment, because It Ia a IMPOSITION
to change our form Of goven-ent from
q free republic of sovereigTs d inde-
pendent citizens to speciesh baternal-
ism hateful to our people. gill take
from the citizen his most sd" and in
alienable rights and add to Ekaugment
the powers Of government, is there
fore undemocratio and ant publican.
2. We oppose this amendrt because
1t is sumptuary and will vef citizens
and interfere with individu y Derty.
3. We oppose this amend because
1t is at war with the funds htsl prin-
cipals Of AnglO-Saxon ciyEo mon, and
will destroy that inalienabl ght Of the
citizen to determine for his II how he
shall pursue his own hspps without
interference with the rigid bf others,
which principle is the basf our liber-
ties and the sole hope for kpetuity oil
our institutions.
4. We oppose this amendment because
its enforcement will entail upon the
government the necessity Of promoting
q system of spies and informe's detests-
BILE to our people, and the enactment OF
extreme legislation OF doubtful constitu-
tionality, and under the nction OF
which our homes may be Ssrched, our
property seized and our dearest rights
Invaded. Texas can not bpe to escape
these curses. which hav, invariably
attended similar experiments In other
places.
8. Its adoption will suppress the gen
eral use Of milder stimular;s and en-
courage the use of the strongdrinks, and
thus retard the adVanoementof genuine
temperance. Ii will stamp Is criminal
the manufacture of wines ON our do
nestle grapes for family rposes, and
will degrade our drug stOr into dram
shops and elevate our doc into auto
Gratis Of our appetites.
6. 1t will enable the r to import
and use their liquors wi ut taxation
or restraint, and viii SShibit only
those Of our people WIN re too poor to
buy their liquors in unbroken packages;
and under It's operation the saloon will
give place TO the gilded club.rOOm for
the rich, while the poor will be forced
to make their purchases at low dives
and Ia violation of law. Such class leg
isl8tiOn is Odious to our people and con-
trary to free gOvernHeRS
z. 1t proposes by the nepOndersnoe
Of majority in certain tctiOns Of the
state to fasten by force on other sections
theory OF moral and social conduct and
habits dlstasteful and repugnant to the
latter. The varied interests OF the sec
ti0ns In our state have teen prolific
source Of care and thought In our states
manship, and this amendment, II
adopted, will engender hostile public
sentiment In certain localities fatal to
Its enforcement, and thus peget disre-
spect for law and disregard OF constitu-
tional authority. and will produce last
ing and permanent evil to our people,
and tend to disrupt the state.
8. 1t proposes to conflsoate ana de-
stroy, without compensation, large prop
erty interests OF our people. 1t Will I'M
settle business and impair properly
values, paralyze, for a period az least
the commercial Interests OF our stste,
and destroy great industries already 10
operation for the manufacture OF inc
milder stlmulants. 1t VIII sDoiish tho
source OF our public revenues Iully 9ne
third and increase to Corresponding
amount the burden upon lands anu .ne
necessaries Of life, already oVeI-uu
dened with the eIsotions OF government
Q. The jealous adherents OF this pro,
bibition idea have already established
and organ lied a third political party anu
have waged relentless warfare upon tne
principles and organization OF the othet
established parties; instigated by ior-
eign emissaries they have, by agitation
for yssEs secnred from the legislature OF
yHf state they OF tsls proposl
tion to change our organic law, and by
studied purpose and concerted move
ment they now seek to stife political
expression from our people until theIr
political designs are fully accomplished;
We warn our people OF this threatened
danger and call upon them to reouke a.
the pollB this sinister conspiracy against
their political organizations ana INC
fundamental principles OF American hO-
arty.